UPDATE: I took the call from them at 8 a.m. this morning and played into their game to get as much info as possible. They are reading from scripts, and if you ask them anything that goes off-script, they transfer you. I spoke to 3 people this morning: Louis Wilson, Heather Lawson and Ben Foster. In looking up Heather Lawson, I see complaints about this scam dating back to 2006!! Why can't we stop this?! This personal information should not be released when people apply for a payday loan.
When I asked for an address, they gave me 42 Broadway 5th Floor NY, NY 10004, and said they are the DCA Law Firm - Department of Corporate Affairs. In actuality, there IS a DCA at this address, but it is the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs.
When "Ben Foster" no longer felt like making up stories to answer my questions (such as "If this was in collections, why haven't I received a written notice within 5 days of initial contact, as per the law under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)?"), he said they would go ahead and process my file and we could deal with it at the courthouse on Monday. I sweetly answered "Oh yes, let's go ahead and do that." He was a bit surprised and then asked for my attorney's info, so I said "Yes, he definitely wants to talk to you" and gave him the info. Then I told him that we were aware this is a scam, that I have already reported him to the FTC and FBI, and that all calls were being recorded. I told him to never ever call here again or he would be the one showing up at the courthouse. I hung up. No callback yet. I am sick to my stomach with what these people are doing to scared, financially-strapped people.
He just called my job today and told me that he filed a claim with the court and am charged with FRAUD 3 COUNTS CAN U HELP HE WILL NOT GIVE ME THE NAME OF THE COMPANY THAT FILED THE CLAIM SAMANTHA IN VIRGINIA [email protected]
I too received a call from this guy and he told me the same thing. Called my local police office and it seems to be a scam. Stating that I didnt pay back a payday loan that I took out in 2008. Funny thing is that in 2008 I was deployed overseas. This is a scam!!!! Do not buy into this.
THIS PERSON KEEPS CALLING ME AND WHENEVER I ASK HIM FOR SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMAPANY HE SAYS THAT HE CAN'T GIVE ME THAT INFORMATION. WHENEVER I ASK HIM ABOUT THE BANK INFO HE SAYS HE CANT GIVE ME THAT EITHER. IM LIKE IF ITS MY ACCOUNT THAT THIS SO CALLED CHECK CASHING PLACE SUPPOSEDLY PLACE INTO MY ACCOUNT WHY CANT YOU GIVE ME THE ACCOUNT INFO. HE CLAIMS I DID THIS LOAN IN 2008 AS WELL.
I got a call from a number, (808) 450-3081, the same area code as Hawaii. Since I didn't recognize the number, I didn't answer it and let it go to voicemail. A man with a very heavy middle eastern accent, identified himself as Jacob Martin. He said that this message was extremely time sensitive and that I needed to return the call as soon as possible. BUT, the number he left me to return the call was,(315) 551-2921. I thought it was odd that the incoming call showed an (808) number, but I was to return his call at a (315) number. I called the (808) number and it said to enter my pin number. So I hung up and called the (315) number. A man with a very heavy middle eastern accent answered. I could hear all kinds of other middle eastern voices in the background similar to telemarketing. He told me that I was being sued by Cash Partners of America for a payday loan I had taken out in September 2008. He knew my email address, my place of employment, some relatives names that he said i had listed as "references", the last 4 digits of my social security number, and the bank I bank with. I knew I had never taken out a loan, but I was really blown away with all the information he had correct about me. I almost fell for his somewhat legal jargon, so I began asking a bunch of questions. When I had asked why I was never sent any correspondences in the mail regarding this issue, he said because the contract I had signed stated that there would be no paperwork involved, everything would be done via email. Then I told him I never got any emails and he said it may have gone to Junk Mail. I told him if that's the case, then why in the heck would I open it with all the viruses and scams out there. I then told him I wanted a copy of this apparent contract I signed and he told me no. I told him I was entitled to a copy of everything I sign. He then changed the subject and pushed the fact that I owe $1,655.00 on a $300 cash advance I supposedly took out. He said if I don't pay that, then I will get served by a police officer tomorrow at my work with court papers and will end up having to pay $5,000+. I told him I didn't have the $1655 and he said what about half. I told him no I didn't have that either. By this time, I knew it was a scam, because a real Law Firm wouldn't take money over the phone. They would do everything legit. I kept asking question after question after and he began to get real aggitated and told me Good Luck and hung up. I went straight to my computer and googled Cash Partners of America and nothing came up. Then I googled(315) 519-2921 and that's when I found hundreds of sites with complaints about this number.